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 A MODEL PAIR
When the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency came calling for Orlando, Florida's PAUL ANDERSON and SHAUN MCCARRON to join the firm, the three-year-strong couple said they came as a package deal—or not at all. Thankfully for them—and the viewers of the hit Oxygen show’s third season—Janice and company said yes. Both 25, Paul (the blond) and Shaun (the brunette) have become its newest breakout stars, yet remain firmly grounded and incredibly humble. In their first interview together, they share their behind-the-scenes stories and how their gym routines developed far more than just abs of steel.
INSTINCT: So, how did appearing on the show come about?
PAUL ANDERSON: Last New Year’s we were at our best friend’s house in West Hollywood, who just happens to be Manny Lehman, and Janice shows up, totally unexpected. She sees us, and immediately starts having one of her Janice moments, going a little crazy. “Oh my God, you must leave your name and number with Ethan,” who was one of the producers there at the party. At the time, we’re thinking, Yeah, right, sure, whatever. But we did, and didn’t think twice of it. A few weeks later Ethan called, and it totally blew my mind. At the time it was just myself, but then I asked if he’d seen Shaun, my boyfriend. I gave Ethan our MySpace address, and he said that we both had to be on the show.
Had either of you done modeling in the past?
PAUL: I had dabbled in it, back in 2001, while going to school in Minnesota.
SHAUN MCCARRON: For me, it was a long, long time ago. This was a whole new game for me. Paul had much more experience, so I was like, What’s this “walk?” How do I walk?
Did you start watching America’s Next Top Model for more advice?
SHAUN: No! [Laughs]
Be honest. Did you really have to go through the model cattle call?
PAUL: We did. They didn’t tell us 100 percent that we were going to be on. We had to tell our jobs here, “Hey we think we’re going to be on this show…”
SHAUN: The whole set-up for the show required us to pick up our lives and temporarily move to L.A. for six weeks. I’m in grad school and didn’t know if we’d be back in time for classes. We took a big gamble.
Do you have any idea of what they’ll likely show of you?
SHAUN: They have a thousand hours of us, so who knows? We did a protest for PETA, which is something we’re already involved with. That was really one of the highlights for me. We want to portray our relationship, and the positive things that can come out of a gay relationship. The modeling thing is obviously short-lived, but it can be a springboard for far more important things, like our involvement with the Human Rights Campaign.
PAUL: The show is just one chapter of our lives. But we didn’t do anything where we’re gonna look that bad. Who knows how they’ll edit it. We are crazy boys who do like to have fun.
Well, if you hang out with Manny Lehman, that speaks volumes.
SHAUN: Manny pretty much raised me since I was 18. When I came out, I didn’t really have anybody I knew. I met him through a friend of a friend at a non-circuit event. We just kind of clicked. He became a mentor for me and put me in the direction that got me sitting at this table right now, doing this interview.
PAUL: Manny has our dog. We were visiting him and brought her along. She’s a Chihuahua-Yorkshire mix, and the two of them bonded so incredibly well, we gave her to him before we left. It was waterworks city. I was crying…
SHAUN: But now the dog’s spoiled. It gets $100 haircuts and has a dogwalker and a dogsitter. Manny keeps saying it’s the family dog, but we’re not taking her back—we got a cat.
How was competing with each other for the same modeling job?
SHAUN: We said, “Well, we’re getting paid, so we’re putting all the money together.”
PAUL: We’re always rooting for each other. I know if he were making money, it would make the trip out there less expensive for me, and vice versa.
SHAUN: But we had decided before going out there that if only one of us got selected and the other one didn’t, then we wouldn’t do it at all.
How did you meet?
PAUL: I was working at a gym here in Orlando. I’d see Shaun come in and—this will probably get me in trouble—I went into the database and jotted down his information. I stayed away because I knew he had a boyfriend…but as it turned out, Shaun decided to chase me. And he was persistent!
SHAUN: I was writing Paul love letters and putting them on his car.
PAUL: I couldn’t get away from him! My mom was visiting—she didn’t know I was gay at the time—and we went to the restaurant Shaun was working at. He paid for the entire meal. Mom was like, “Oh, what a nice man.”
SHAUN: Paul used to have to tell his mom he was leaving to go help his “straight” friend Shaun who was having girlfriend problems…and he might be gone all night. She knows now, but when she’d come to visit after we first started living together, we had to de-gay the house and move one of us into the guest bedroom.
What is the real-life Janice Dickinson really like?
SHAUN: She is a really smart woman who is quite probably insane, but she knows a lot about modeling. She’s trying to stay young, not just through her physical attributes, but her personality as well. She knows if she slows down, then that’s when it goes downhill.
PAUL: And she loves her gays, which is why we love her.
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Check out The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency Tuesday nights on Oxygen.
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Instinct Online 
written by james smith on January 05, 2008
i love the janice dickinson modelling agency.J.P is one of my favourites.he was on the cover of instinct.for the water picture,janice had to get under him to keep him up.ha ha.P.S i am 12.
written by sarquasha on January 05, 2008
they're a really cute couple ,but i think shuan is the hot one
written by PLiiNiiO LAViiN on January 06, 2008
they're both soo HOT, and they're the cutest couple in the world!!!
i totally ? janice!!!
written by PLiiNiiO LAViiN on January 06, 2008
i love ? (heart) janice
written by Tobias on January 06, 2008
i wish i was a model, its my dream, then i wanna be on the cover of instinct and model for the JDMA
written by Tobias on January 06, 2008
if anyone knows where i can make my modeling dream come true PLEASE tell me
written by badreddine on January 09, 2008
salut a tout le monde je suis raville de vous avoirs comme a
written by anonymous on January 15, 2008
"P.S i am 12"?
...know what, shut up.
written by John B on January 16, 2008
Tobias, r u cute? Instinct does take cover nominations:
http://instinctmagazine.com/submissions/nominate-a-cover-guy.html
written by kyan martinez on January 29, 2008
all i can is wow,,, they are both hot and sexy.... i like really like them...
written by im not juat cute... on February 20, 2008
these are quiet possiblly the nicest and most sincere people i have ever meet (besides me and my boyfriend haha) they are not just another hot gay bitchy couple.. they are both members at the same gym i go to here in orlando and always willing to say hi and chat... love them...
written by Warren Woywood on February 24, 2008
Wow, I wish I had friends like them. They're not just hot but nice and lovable
written by John W. on May 15, 2008
Paul and Shaun worked for me during the grand opening of Macys Galleria (fort lauderdale FL) -- they were really nice and funny! Both of them want more education and the fact that they are hot does not hinder the way they treat people. They are a class act!! I hope they go on to really BIG things in hollywood - they are great role models for younger guys!!